If you don’t go out on the branch, you’re never going to get the best fruit. This thought probably crossed Mutyala Reddy’s mind when he left his job at Hindustan Zinc to focus his life’s goal on making his son a top-notch cricketer. Thus, began the struggle and obviously, the unending taunts from the neighbours and relatives. The risk was huge, the destination far; but Reddy had a clear idea of where his son’s destiny lay.
After years of patience, sacrifice, and hard work, came the day when Mutyala’s son, Nitish Kumar Reddy broke into the Indian team. The all-rounder from Andhra received a maiden call-up following a stellar IPL season playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. But how cruel life could be? Days after being named in India’s squad for the Zimbabwe tour, a hernia niggle denied him the chance to play for the country.
In an exclusive conversation with News18 CricketNext, Reddy said the news of his India selection was a moment to cherish for his family but nothing can’t be done about the other part of it.
“I had this feeling that I would be getting a chance in the Zimbabwe series. And I got that short call and I didn’t know what to do. I straightaway called my father and he literally started crying… like happy tears. Even my mom was so happy,” Nitesh told the website.
“Unfortunately, because of this injury, I’m not a part of this Zimbabwe tour. But it’s a part of an athlete’s life. You have to accept whatever happens. If you ask me, this is not the point where I can stop. There are a lot of matches as well coming. I want to focus. I don’t want to demoralize myself. I want to focus on the future. What happened has happened. We can’t change it, right?” he added.
Father’s Sacrifice
Nitish was just eight years old when his father, who was posted in Rajasthan, decided to quit his government job and stay back in Andhra to work towards his son’s ambitions. It wasn’t easy for Reddy Senior to take that step but a father put his son’s future and ambition ahead of his own.
“If I have to tell that whole story, it will take 2-3 hours to tell,” Nitish remembered.
“But cutting it short, he resigned from his job for me. I was just starting my career and was about to go to the academy in a few weeks. That’s when he took that call to stay. He was transferred to Rajasthan and had to stay there. People said if he goes to Rajasthan, how will he manage everything here?
“So my father took this decision to stay back and keep working with me. Since that day, his job has been to take care of me. In fact, he does that even today. I’m so happy that I’m seeing some progress in my game and I’m making him proud. A son couldn’t have asked for anything more than this to his father,” Reddy added.
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And now that Mutyala’s sacrifice paid off and his son, Nitish, could soon play for the country, the people who used to mock them have turned graceful, even inviting the Reddy family to their homes for a meal.
“Amid all the criticism, my father somehow believed that my son is going to make big. People who backbit about him would now call my father to praise me or would invite me and my father for dinner. You can see the progress and all. I’m so happy that my father is also getting back his lost respect,” the cricketer said.
The Unexpected Retention
Reddy was a rising star in SRH camp this year as the side went on to play the final but ended as the runner-up. The all-rounder scored 303 runs in 13 games, striking at 142.93, and even pocketed a couple of wickets.
But before soaring under Pat Cummins, Reddy was skeptical about his retention, given that he got just two games in SRH’s shaky season last year and never got a chance to bat. His worries doubled up after he missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy due to an injury, further sidelining him before the IPL auctions.
To his surprise though, the franchise showed faith in him and held him for another season where his best was about to come.
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“I played very less number of matches and the next year, I missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, because of an injury. To be honest, I was not expecting that SRH would retain me because they haven’t seen me batting in the matches and even Syed Mushtaq Ali also, I’ve been missing for 2 years. So it was just surprising for me as well. They retained me and I would say they showed some faith in me, that they believed in me so,” Reddy told the website.
Relieved with the retention, the 21-year-old was determined to recalibrate his learning from the superstars of the game. The Orange Army is full of such individuals and for Reddy, it was no less than a cricket institution.
“I’ve always looked forward to learning from the experienced players because talent is everywhere So I try to get small, small points from Bhuvi Bhai or Klaasen or some other players. So that really helps me in the centre so I can handle the pressure well,” he said.
Gelling up with Pat Cummins
Returning to the SRH camp was one thing and playing under a world-class player like Cummins was another. Especially, when he’s coming from a different country and hardly has any idea about the depth of India’s domestic set-up. Reddy was excited to share the dressing room with the ODI World Cup-winning skipper but at the same time, was unsure about how things would turn out with a new figure in the room.
But the youngster was taken by surprise when he got to know that Cummins had an idea about his talent via YouTube videos.
“Pat joined before just three days before the IPL. Meanwhile, I did well in the practice games and the coaches were really impressed. But I wanted the skipper to know. I was like, ‘Does he know how I play and how I approach the game?’. But when he joined, he said, ‘Nitish, you’re playing very well’.
“I was like shocked. How does he know about my batting? He didn’t see me in the practice sessions So I asked him about it and he said he saw my batting videos on YouTube and appreciated my talent. So that’s really a kind of boost,” Reddy said.
The Blast in Mullanpur
The 21-year-old made his presence felt in an away fixture against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, saving the Orange Army from a collapse. He registered his career-best score of 64 off 37 balls, with five sixes and four fours, at a strike rate of 172.97.
“I’ve been actually planning for this innings for a while. When I got the opportunity, I made sure I played a crucial knock. I planned to stick around and take some time. I observed how spinners would bowl and attack them. So, that was the plan. We were three down and going over there and playing in those conditions really boosted my confidence,” he added.
Aspirations of Playing for India
Although an injury denied Reddy a trip to Zimbabwe after his maiden international call-up, the positive thing is that the doors have opened for him. The call-up is just the beginning and Reddy wants to keep grinding and let things fall into place on its own.
“We have to just perform whatever opportunities we are getting and let the BCCI do what the selection they wanted. But we have to be focused and we have to perform in whatever situations we are getting. We just need to grab those opportunities,” he concluded.
Association with PUMA INDIA
Not just the India call-up but Reddy reaped the rewards for his hard work in terms of sponsorship as well. Puma India recently roped him in, along with Riyan Parag, in line with the brand’s commitment to nurturing young talent and solidifying the sports brand’s connection with youth culture in the country.
Reddy, a fan of the brand since childhood, is grateful to be associated with Puma India.
“It’s great to be associated with PUMA as an athlete. They have a great reputation and to be honest. I’ve loved the brand since childhood and always wanted sport. So, getting sponsored by them is so good,” Reddy said.